of present blessings, is also the only possible mean of everlast- ing happiness. The burthen of guilt which lies upon us, can never be removed, but by prayer. Peace with God can never be obtained, but by prayer. And they who will not pray, voluntarily bind their own sins upon them, and reject the proffered mercies of their God. Think, ye prayerless people, how your conduct will appear to you at the day of judgment : " Had I prayed, my sins had been forgiven : had I prayed, I had now been happy beyond all the powers of language to express : but the time is past : prayer will not avail me now : my weeping will be fruitless ; my wailing irremediable ; my gnashing of teeth eternal."
O that we might all awake from our slumbers ! O that we might "arise, and call upon our God!" Then should we understand the efficacy of prayer, and experience its benefits both in time and in eternity.]
Phil. iv. 8. Finally, brethren, ivhatsoever things are true, tvhat- soever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatso- ever things are pure, ivhatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report ; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.
THE scope and tendency of Christianity is to en- noble the mind of man, and to restore him to his primitive dignity. If we could frame to ourselves a just idea of what Adam was, when he came out of his Maker's hands, we should see exactly the spirit and conduct to which we are to be reduced by the Gospel. The doctrines of our holy religion, excellent as they are, are of no value any further than they produce this blessed effect. They point out the way in which this change is to be wrought, and supply the only motives that can operate upon us with sufficient weight. In this view they are invariably proposed by the inspired writers, who, having stated them in their epistles, always call our attention to the prac- tical improvement of them.
In the exhortation before us we may notice,
I. The extent of a Christian's duty —